Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I decided to change things this morning. I put 3 pigeons out, in a triangle, about 20 yards apart. I set this up near where I usually put the middle pigeon. That way if they hunted the first part of the bird field I would be able to catch up and see them point the pigeon.
I put the e-collars on Tur Bo’s neck and flanks. I heeled him near the 4-wheeler and said whoa. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and said okay. When I got to the area where I usually put the first bird Tur Bo was just leaving. I made it into the next section in time to see him slam into a point. The way the birds were hidden, he had a release trap about 20 yards to his right and behind him. He had another about 20 yards to his left and behind him. I took some pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I said whoa, flushed the pigeon to his right and behind him. He was steady to flush but when I said whoa and shot the blank pistol he took a couple of steps. I carried him back.
When he went back on point, I walked in front of him kicking the cover, said whoa and flushed the pigeon to his left rear. He took a step when I said whoa and shot the blank pistol, again. This pigeon lit in a tree not far away and when he heard it fly he took a step. I carried him back. When he went back on point I went in front of him again, kicking the cover. I said whoa and flushed the pigeon. He didn’t move until I shot the blank pistol. This bird also landed in a tree real near us. I carried him back. He went back on point and the pigeon flew out of the tree and he never moved. I stroked his sides then tapped him on the head to release him. I let him run some before taking him back to the kennel.
Blaze
Blaze
I left one of the pigeons where they were set for Tur Bo and moved the other two on toward the back of the training grounds. They were about 50 yards apart. I put the e-collars on Blaze and heeled her out near the 4-wheeler. I said whoa, got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and said okay to release her.
The last time I worked Blaze, she was right on top of her birds when she pointed so my game plan was to flush her pigeons before she could point. She didn’t even hesitate, on her first bird she slid to a point about 10 yards from it. I took pictures, went in front of her kicking the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I kicked the cover, then went to her, stroked her sides and tapped her on the head to release her.
When she got close to her second pigeon I flushed it. It came up real near her and the bird caused her head to raise and she sat. I walked to her and stood her up. I kicked in front of her then tapped her on the head to release her.
When she hit the scent cone on the third bird she pointed. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I walked in front of her kicking the cover then went to her and stroked her sides then tapped her on the head to release her. I let her run a while before going back to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
I whoaed Luke near the 4-wheeler after putting the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released him with an okay. Luke is always fast to his birds and he was on point when I got to the first pigeon. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I kicked in front of him then stroked his sides and tapped his head to release him.
He went straight to the second bird and went on point. I took more pictures then walked in front of him kicking the weeds. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I kicked the weeds then stroked his sides and tapped him on the head for the release.
He pointed his third bird and I started kicking the weeds then noticed a log just barely sticking out of the weeds. I decided to kick the log for a little more noise. When I kicked the log it rolled where the end I kicked went to the ground and came back up. When it came back up the wasps came boiling out. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I released him with an okay and went to my 4-wheeler. I let him run for a little while before returning to the kennel.
When I went back for my release trap I didn’t see any wasps but I won’t kick that log again. Tur Bo is still moving when I shoot the blank pistol but he’s not chasing. He only moves a few steps then stops. But just a few days ago he was moving when I got on the 4-wheeler and started it. Blaze is not moving now on the flush of the bird or the shot. If I continue to flush some birds before she can point them she will point her birds from a distance. Between now and th
e start of quail these young dogs should be doing good.